Knysna Youth Journalism

This is an intended future project.Currently our hands are full with the Experience Knysna Project.

“A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anythingfrom change the world to share your shopping list.”

The Knysna Youth Journalism (KYJ) programme encourages young adults to engage with local entertainment, current affairs and tourism via blogging on local websites such as Love Knysna!, Love Knysna Projects and Knysna Schools. This opportunity offers scholars experience and recognition through news service to their community of Knysna.

Love Knysna’s goals include:

Bringing Knysna online and in touch with the modern world.

Shining a tourism spotlight on our beautiful town.

Making locals proud of our town.

Supporting local business.

Bonding community through news and eventing.

Promoting multicultural understanding.

KYJ goals include:

Making education fun.

Developing community awareness.

Promoting youth into adulthood.

Aiding literacy and encouraging reading amongst scholars.

A practical CV addition to accompany higher education application.

Candidates:

Prospective Youth Journalists must have a passion and ability for the English language.

Grades 9-12 only.

Fun and experience seeking is a requirement but notable value will be gained by scholars contemplating careers such as:

Firstly, the state of the internet needs addressing. Since 1995, the number of websites has grown from 15 000 to over 350 million. Although internet users have also increased, the overall effect has meant less traffic per website. Furthermore, since 2008 (approximately), social media forced websites to relinquish their highlight status.

As a negative, the mind of the youth has become more momentary and the English language has devolved through internet speak (texting short-cuts). We will assist students in dodging that cultural pitfall.

Positively, websites are indispensable limbs of society, as practical as a car or cellphone. Ironically, even if it isn’t visited, a person receiving a business card expects to see a business URL on it.

We will help the most promising students learn how to use WordPress, the most popular blogging platform in the world today (and with which all Love Knysna!’s websites are made). Not only can it assist them, and help them assists others, but blogging, in diary form, not only improves skills but helps understand the world and oneself better.

Charity:

Love Knysna!’s heart warms to improving Knysna which translates into helping citizens in need. We have assisted individuals and businesses with copywriting and web creation. On www.LoveKnysna.com, we are always adding free web pages for locals e.g. painters, restaurants etc. A goal for 2013 is to list all charities and community organizations operating within the Knysna area. We hope that our actions will encourage Youth Journalists to “pass it on”.

“Where the Internet is about availability of information,blogging is about making information creationavailable to anyone.”– George Siemens

KYJ Procedure:

Prospective Youth Journalists will be expected to understand the concepts being promoted by the various websites. That will grant them the ability to not only fulfil assignments better but make suggestions too. They will learn to meet deadlines and improve their English but never at the sake of losing independence. Community requires the co-existence of independence and responsibility.

Rewrites will be required as blogs will be edited and suggestions made.

Reporters will be graded according to assignments completed. The higher the grade, the better the choice of assignments e.g. reporting on a concert could include backstage pass. For grading to work most effectively, the programme will require 3 years but a dedicated Youth Journalist can achieve quickly. Naturally, school work and exams are a priority so assignment requirements will be adjusted as necessary. General expectation and ranking is as follows:

A minimum of 3 blogs to be completed monthly with 1 month off annually. A weekly blogger (i.e. 4 blogs per month) would have 4 months off, an attitude that would be especially encouraged for students in their final year of schooling.

After 12 blogs, if they so desire, they will be given a Love Knysna edress e.g. richard@loveknysna.com.

0-33 blogs – Trainee Youth Journalist

34-66 articles – Youth Journalist

67 or more articles – Senior Youth Journalist

Depending on the level of participation in the programme, a Head and Sub-Head Youth Journalist will be delegated. Their duties would include sub-editing trainee blogs. This serves as a further CV reference.

Youth Journalists will be credited e.g. on www.LoveKnysna.com, below an article, will be their photo, the school they’re from, and a short summary about who they are.

KYJ Future:

Discussions with media professionals.

Reporting inclusion in local newspapers.

Creative and non-fiction writing competition.

Newsrooms handling school reporting.

Development of pupils from disadvantaged schools.

Photo and video journalism.

Establishment of similar centres in neighbouring towns with the goal of cross-pollinating environments and consequent thought.

KYJ Safety:

Youth Journalists will be required to have their parents sign a permission form.

Most reporting will be undertaken within the context of their everyday lives or via internet research but, in the case of field trips, a second parental permission form will be required.